Taiwan
TWNTaiwan is a high-income democracy with universal single-payer healthcare (NHI), one of the highest passport rankings in Asia, and consistently ranks at the top of global expat surveys for safety, healthcare, and quality of life. Taiwan does not generally permit dual citizenship — naturalisation requires renunciation of the prior nationality except for high-skilled foreigners under the Plum Blossom Card / Gold Card regime. The Foreign Special Professional regime offers a 50% income-tax exemption on high-earner foreign professionals.
Passport Rank
#33
Visa-Free
145
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Taipei
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (TWD)
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka
- Population
- 23,590,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Subtropical / tropical
- English Proficiency Rank
- #35
- Territorial Taxation
- Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
Foreign Special Professional regime under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals: 50% income-tax exemption on the portion of annual salary exceeding NT$3 million for the first 5 years.
Indices
Cost of Living
56
Safety
84
Healthcare
86
Quality of Life
192
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Special Tax Regime
- Foreign Special Professional regime under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals: 50% income-tax exemption on the portion of annual salary exceeding NT$3 million for the first 5 years.
Cost of Living by City
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| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei | $950 | $650 | $320 | $110 | $50 |
| Kaohsiung | $480 | $350 | $290 | $100 | $36 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- Yes (basic Mandarin)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $320
- Processing
- ~12 months
International Schools
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| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei American School | Taipei | American | $22,000–$38,000 |
| Taipei European School | Taipei | British / French / German / IB | $20,000–$35,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
220 Mbps median
95% fibre coverage
eSIM: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, FarEasTone
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #1
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Limited
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.